Kyle came springing down the stairs, he was wearing new jeans and a new sweater, he stopped by the mirror in the hallway.

"Where you going?"

Kyle looked around and saw Dev leaning against the door jamb to the living room with his arms crossed over his broad chest, Kyle flashed him a quick grin.

"To the movies," Kyle said, "Naomi wants to see Avatar."

"You're looking very swish," Dev said sarcastically and Kyle said nothing but gave the mirror the finger so Dev saw his reflection.

"So this Naomi," Dev said seriously, "who is she?"

"You've met her," Kyle said distractedly, deciding if the sweater looked right.

"Yeah, but how much do you know about her?"

"Enough."

"Enough," Dev repeated, his temper flaring, Kyle raised a questioning eyebrow at him in the mirror.

"What's up your ass?"

"Have you slept with her yet?" Dev demanded and a shadow of anger darkened Kyle's face, he turned and looked at Dev in disgust.

"That's none of your business!" Kyle snapped back at him, he made to walk past, "pervert!"

"Oh, spare me!" Dev sneered, "I don't give a shit about your love life! I just want to know whether you have been with her yet?"

"Why do you want to know?" Kyle demanded.

"Because we want you to be careful," Dev said suddenly, surprising Kyle who didn't think that was what Dev would say.

"We can't catch -"

"I don't give a shit about STD's, Kyle!" Dev cried, "I want you to be careful in case she's your mate."

Kyle was shocked into silence for a moment, but in truth he wasn't shocked, not by the idea that Naomi was his mate at least. He hadn't expected Dev to be thinking along the same lines though.

"So what?" Kyle replied carelessly and with a shrug that riled Dev more.

"What do you mean so what, you stupid idiot?" Dev shouted, "you're too young to be mated Kyle. You're fresh out of puberty, you can't handle being mated."

"I'd handle it a damn sight better then you did!" Kyle retorted and Dev's head snapped back as if Kyle had hit him. "And so what if I was mated?"

Dev looked as if he couldn't believe his ears, "listen to yourself. You're too young."

"Some of my human friends are already married with children at twenty-five," Kyle informed him coolly.

"You're a were-hunter, Kyle!" Dev shouted at him.

"So that just means I'm more prepared then anyone should I be mated!"

"How do you figure that?" Dev sneered mockingly.

"I have money and property independent of this family, I know how to run a business and I'm capable of taking care of myself. I stay here because this is my family home and I love it, because I want to be here. But I don't think you like that I would be able to survive on my own."

"You wouldn't last a day!"

"Whatever," Kyle said, "you're making me late."

"If you sleep with her and you're mated, what the hell are you going to do?" Dev followed him, drilling into him; Kyle started to feel his head pound. "Huh? What happens when you have to convince her that she has to mate with you?"

Kyle said nothing but kept walking, he got downstairs and was at the door that led through to the bar, Jasyn was at the door. He gave the pair of them an uninterested look before leaving for the kitchen.

"You've only been going out for two months, Kyle!"

"Three actually!"

"Big difference. It's still not enough time to -"

"To what?"

Dev growled in frustration.

"Why are you being so unreasonable," Dev yelled, "you barely know this chick, are you going to through away your youth on her?"

"Not everyone wants to whore themselves out for centuries, Dev!"

"This isn't about that," Dev said sternly, though Kyle saw his cheeks glow scarlet.

"Then what is it about? I sleep with her, I'm either mated or I'm not!"

"She won't be able to accept the reality of what you are!" Dev shouted at him, "she's too young and so are you, end of story!"

Dev made a slashing motion with his hand and Kyle snarled at him before turning to leave again.

"She'll never accept you, Kyle. And if she does it won't be for the right reasons."

Kyle went stock still, he turned, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Meaning you're really good looking with that wallet making weight in your pocket!"

Kyle stared at Dev and Dev bit his lip, he'd heard his mother's voice. She'd shouted the same thing at Remi about Lucille … at all of them at one point or another about their mates because to her no woman was good enough for her sons. Dev had never liked his mother's tactics and he'd just gone for the jugular on his little brother, Dev put his hands on his waist and hung his head. He saw Kyle walk towards him, likely to get past and go to his room.

"Kyle, I'm so -"

Dev didn't finish the rest of his apology because Kyle didn't want to get past, instead he pulled back his fist and slammed it into Dev's face with such strength that he knocked the elder bear down, flat on his ass, Dev looked up shocked at Kyle's show of strength. Kyle's hands went to his hair and he paced away from Dev then back to him, he looked scared, not of Dev and his reprisals, but of what he had just done.

"Shit! I'm sorry - I didn't mean -" Kyle couldn't manage anything else; he fled from the house, tearing through the bar like demons were on his tail. He'd always fought with his older brothers before, but never had he hit to hurt them like that, the feeling of anger and rage it had taken to make him lash out. Kyle felt like he'd committed the ultimate act of disrespect and disgrace against his family, how could he look his brothers in the face again?

Back in Sanctuary Dev was still on his ass, he didn't want to admit it but his little brother packed quite a punch and it had left him feeling dizzy. His mouth was pouring with blood and Dev spat a tooth out in his hand, he groaned, Sera was just going to love this. Jasyn appeared at the kitchen door and leant against the door frame, he raised an impeccably arrogant eyebrow.

"For entertainment value alone, I would award you ten points," he remarked in a crafty voice, there was a malicious laugh in there somewhere. "But for skill you really fucked up so you only get three."

"Piss off!" Dev snarled and Jasyn laughed.

"I always thought it was quite unfair that as a Limani you all were allowed to fight each other without consequences. But then I guess Savitar saw this day coming."

Jasyn turned around to walk back into the kitchen calling over his shoulder, "word of the wise, bear. If you're wanting to lecture him on women, its best if someone does it who hasn't shagged more women then he's had hot dinners. Just a thought, bear, just a thought."

Dev growled, Jasyn was usually a monosyllabic, acerbic loner yet he'd spoken more then he'd ever done at Sanctuary and all of it was snide and mocking. No wonder there was enough bounty on his head to fill the Mississippi until it was spitting out gold.


Kyle found himself at Naomi's door, she'd told him she'd be meeting him at Bride's store, but he had let his feet take him anywhere and he found himself there. Kyle leant his head against the frame of her front door and didn't knock; he just wanted the pounding behind his eyes to stop for one minute.

"Can I help you?"

Kyle snapped his eyes open and spun around, a woman was standing on the bottom step of the porch stairs, she was in her mid forties with a pretty face that resembled Naomi's. Kyle cleared his throat quickly; the woman looked at him expectantly.

"I'm Kyle, Kyle Peltier. I'm looking for Naomi."

The woman smiled kindly, but there was a look in her eyes, one his mother gave him that told him she was a little worried about him but had decided to let him sort it out for himself. The woman came up the steps with her keys in her hand.

"I was just going to pop my keys under the door mat for Naomi if she was going to come in late. She gave her keys to her younger sister," the woman explained, "I'm working nights now and I don't like her being alone in here by herself, I'm glad you're here with her."

She unlocked the door and handed him the keys, she then gave him a smile and went back to her car, started the engine and drove away. Kyle watched her out of sight; all of a sudden he really missed his own mother.

"Kyle?"

He looked through the door and saw Naomi looking shocked to see him; he gave her a wan smile, "hey."

She looked as if she were about to ask him what he was doing here but she noticed how stooped his shoulders were, how dull his face appeared.

"Come in," she said softly and he did, closing the door behind him he moved into her warm home. It was decorated nicely but not lavishly, it was immaculately clean and tidy, everything put in its right place. There were lots of photos of Naomi and her family together, lots of trophies, and ribbons, some for Naomi and others for her brothers.

Naomi didn't lead him to the kitchen, she took the keys from his hand and then led him upstairs, he followed mutely the light smell of her almond air freshener was pleasing to his senses, as was the smell of Naomi's skin when he got close enough to smell it. She opened the door to her room and let him in, he walked in dumbly and she closed the door quietly, she moved him towards the bed and sat him down. Kyle noted that her room wasn't overtly girly; it was fairly large, with pine furniture and a wicker chair in the corner with large red pillows on it and a teddy bear. She had lots of books here, on a shelf nailed high on her wall that ran all the way round her bedroom. They weren't all fiction; some were geography, history, languages, the things they shared in common. There was a world map on her wall with different routes marked out on it with different coloured pens, beside it were framed pictures, her windows were shut and Kyle looked out to see a trickle of rain racing down the pane.

Naomi joined him on the bed and looked at him, he didn't say anything, nor did he look at her, she reached up and gently stroked his hair back. Kyle moaned with contentment and leaned into her touch as if seeking comfort, she continued to stroke, Kyle had never felt anything so soothing. She murmured to him, low, soft and slow and her voice had the same peaceful, soothing effect as if someone were massaging his shoulders.

"Forget the movies," she was saying softly, still stroking back his hair, "you look like you've had a rough day."

Kyle nodded and closed his eyes.

When he woke his headache was gone and Kyle felt like his fight with Dev had happened several days ago instead of several hours. Kyle looked at the window, it was still raining, heavier in fact then it was earlier but instead of dusk just rolling in it was completely dark and he saw himself reflected in the window along with the dim light from the lamp on Naomi's bed side table. Kyle wasn't sure how it had happened but his sweater and shirt was off and folded neatly on her wicker chair, his shoes were off too and his head was on Naomi's chest. The urge to go back to sleep was overwhelming, he felt so peaceful and warm here but it wasn't fair on Naomi, he moved and she blinked her eyes open.

"I must have dozed off with you," she murmured huskily, Kyle didn't get very far, he couldn't be bothered to move that much so he simply rolled off her and on to the other side of the bed. He was extremely glad at that moment that he was Arcadian so he hadn't transformed under her touch, he hadn't been able to help himself; he just fell asleep.

"Sorry if I drooled over you," he murmured and Naomi smiled at him.

"Its fine," she whispered, "are you okay?"

Kyle nodded.

"You know …" Kyle began then stopped, not sure whether he could or should continue with his line of thought.

"What?" Naomi said and turned on her side so she was facing him.

"My mother and father only died seven months ago," Kyle said, he flicked his gaze to hers, she looked sad for him, she shifted closer.

"I'm so sorry," she said softly, Kyle smiled at her beautiful ways.

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about them," Kyle drew a shuddering breath and tried to say the next lines without being completely cheesy, "except when I'm with you."

Naomi didn't say anything but she smiled softly at him and did that magic thing with her delicate fingers where she stroked his hair back gently, her nails grazing his scalp almost by accident, but it brought him out in goose pimples all the same.

"How did I get half naked, by the way?" Kyle said suddenly, hoping to break the silence that had settled between them. It wasn't uncomfortable, far from it, but it was just the kind of silence that he was tempted to fill by saying something that they both weren't ready for … no matter how true the words may be.

"It was a joint effort," Naomi eyes laughed at him, "You were half asleep and trying to take your sweater off so I helped with that and the rest."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Kyle pillowed his head against his arm and looked across her room to the wall with the map, he nodded to it and Naomi moved her head so she could stare also.

"Where you going?" Kyle whispered, there was a movement beside him that told him she had just shrugged.

"See the blue line?" she whispered, "that's the trip I want to take before I'm twenty-five. It takes me across the states and into Canada. The green line is what I want to complete before I'm twenty-nine, island hopping around the Med."

She shifted closer to Kyle and he watched her stare at the map with loving, hopeful eyes, "purple line, Africa before I'm thirty-three. Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, the Congo."

"The red one?" Kyle murmured, "Europe?"

"Yeah. The best 'til last, before I'm forty. You know, my ancestors came from Europe?"

"So did mine," Kyle murmured and Naomi beamed at him.

"My father's family were from Ireland and Italy. My mother's family are from England and France. My grandmother told me stories before she died of her mother in London during the blitz, she met my great-grandfather who was an American soldier and they fell in love."

Kyle smiled.

"Why do you have those specific ages?" he asked and saw not so much a shadow but rather a suggestion of one crossing her face.

"Do you ever feel like there isn't enough time?" Naomi whispered and Kyle stayed quiet, growing up as a were-hunter one thing he had plenty of was time. "That life is running out before you've planned what you want to do let alone do it? … I do."

"You've got your whole life ahead of you," Kyle whispered to her.

"Do I?" Naomi asked casually, but her eyes looked despairing, "By the time I get my degree and get out of college I'll be twenty-four. I just want more time to do things; I don't want to be like my mother."

"Your mother?"

"Twenty-five, twenty-nine, thirty-three and forty, was the ages she had me and my brothers and sister. She always wanted to travel the world, when I asked why she didn't she told me she was too old for it now. Her time was up; she was where she had to be."

"Ah," Kyle said, understanding Naomi's fear to an extent. "Is that what scares you most? Not living?"

"Yep," Naomi sighed wistfully, "of wanting something and never having it. Of slipping away …"

Naomi looked at him with a self-deprecating smile, "how melodramatic is that?"

Kyle chuckled and linked hands with her.

"What scares you?"

Kyle turned his head to see Naomi looking at him questioningly, he opened his mouth but nothing came out.

"I … I've never really thought about it," he said, "I guess I'm frightened of … not so much the slipping away of life, but the waiting for my destiny to reveal itself."

"You believe in destiny?"

"Absolutely. I believe that there are three women up there somewhere right now, mapping out the next details of my life. And yours too."

Naomi let out a giggle and smiled at him, "the Moiré?"

"Exactly," Kyle said with a grin, his grin faded slightly, "I'm scared of not being in control. Of making choices that will hurt people."

Kyle leaned in until their foreheads were touching, like so many times before Naomi lifted her lids and flashed her eyes at him. The attraction that followed and the overwhelming need became ferocious in him; Kyle leant in so he touched his lips to hers. He allowed his thoughts to be washed away in that kiss, thinking of only how erotic her tongue was when it touched his, how soft her lips were. Naomi lifted a trembling hand and laid it on Kyle's bare chest, the excitement it produced had him jolting and Naomi took her hand away quickly. Without breaking the kiss Kyle took her hand in his returned it to his chest, Naomi smiled into the kiss and smoothed her palm up his chest towards his shoulder. Kyle was a little more hesitant with his hands, but he gathered her to him as best as he could while keeping his hips away from her so she wouldn't feel the beginnings of his semi. Naomi swept her hand up the nape of his neck and into his hair, gripping the golden strands in her fist, Kyle temporarily forgot his erection and yanked Naomi closer to him, rolling with her slightly so his upper body lay upon hers. Without meaning to, though secretly he had wanted it for a long time, Kyle swept his hand up her stomach and hit the underside of her breast. It was soft and warm through her t-shirt and his immediate reaction was to cup it, instead he broke the kiss and looked down upon Naomi.

Her lips were red and wet and her eyes dazed looking, she had felt his touch and her desire heightened immensely making Kyle go so hard he could barely keep his hips from pumping.

"Its okay," Naomi murmured, "to touch me there."

"Are you sure?" Kyle asked, praying that she meant it.

"I want you to."

Kyle lowered his lips once more to hers and they resumed their kiss, this time Kyle moved his hand up slowly and rubbed the underside teasingly with his thumb. Through her thin t-shirt Kyle felt her nipple blossom against his chest and he moved his hand up further, pushing his thumb firmly over the sensitive peak. Naomi arched into his hands, her back bowing slightly, she held him to her tightly and run her hands down his bare back, making him arch rather cat-like to her touch. He swept his hand back down her stomach and up again, hitting the underside of her breast, he repeated the motion each time dragging the shirt she wore up higher. Finally his fingers brushed against forbidden skin, warm and unbelievably soft, pliable and full, Kyle cupped Naomi's breast in his hand and kneaded.

She gasped and he did it again, his thumb brushed the nipple, still soft but the texture was different from the rest of the skin. He wondered if she would allow him to lift her shirt so he could lick at her, Kyle broke from her mouth and trailed kisses down her throat. Naomi's boneless body obediently tilted her head to the side and gave him greater access, her fingers skimming languidly down his defined abs. Kyle shuddered, pretty sure he would go off in his pants if she did that again, he licked at the hollow of her throat then he moved lower. He held himself poised above her nipple and refused to move until she said so, Naomi palmed his cheek and Kyle took that for assent. He lowered his mouth and covering the nipple, he sucked with slow, drugging pulls, the taste of her making him want to sink his teeth in harder. Naomi gave a soft moan and arched into him, Kyle did it again and squeezed his eyes shut trying to stop himself from coming. He lifted his head and curled his tongue around the nipple, his hand insistently kneading and squeezing the other breast, Naomi's hands went to his flies and Kyle went cold.

He brought himself up sharply and looked down on her; her eyes were confused as she breathed in pants, the same as him.

"I'm …" she blushed furiously as she stammered, "I'm ready. If … if you are, I mean."

Kyle felt his body screaming for hers, especially now that he realised he was half sitting, half lying between her open thighs. Her soft, old jeans stretched taunt over the warm, tight, young body beneath them. He wanted her desperately but … mated?

"I'm not," Kyle blurted out without thinking; still staring down at her he saw her blink in surprise. "I'm not ready … yet."

"Oh," Naomi said, she blinked again, "okay. Well, erm, we can wait."

Kyle sat up with a curse and moved to the edge of the bed where he rubbed his face furiously, he was sporting a hard on the size of a telephone pole and he was pulling shit like he wasn't ready. Naomi sat up slowly and sat back against her pillows, her legs pulled up against her.

"You must think I'm some kind of weirdo, right?" Kyle murmured, cringing at what she was no doubt thinking about him.

"No," she denied quickly, too quickly, Kyle's heart sank lower. "No, Kyle I don't. I'm a little surprised, if truth be known. But that's just because I thought we were waiting on me, I didn't think that you weren't ready. To be honest, if I had known I think it would have taken a lot of pressure off of me."

Kyle nodded, he felt like he was scenting the truth from her, he looked at her over his shoulder and saw her eyes were down cast and she was worrying her lip.

"What is it?" he asked miserably, Naomi looked up and opened her mouth, it looked like she was struggling for words.

"Look, just come out and say -"

"It's not me, is it?" she blurted out suddenly, Kyle frowned at her and she blushed.

"What do you mean?" Naomi rolled her eyes at him as if he were dense.

"You know what I mean," she said and there was a bite in her voice, "is it … me? My body or … is it me?"

"No!" Kyle insisted vehemently, "no, its not you."

She smiled slightly but he knew she wasn't convinced; he stood up in front of her ready to pull some drastic shit.

"Look, don't freak out but -" Kyle took her hand and led it to his erection, he hissed and shuddered as she palmed him through his jeans, he's head was thrown back and the tendons in his neck were straining with the pressure of not thrusting against her.

"That's how much I want you," Kyle muttered huskily and Naomi, blushing the colour of a tomato, looked very pleased.

"I'm just not ready," Kyle said miserably and felt utterly pathetic, Naomi smiled at him. She knelt up on the bed and wrapped one arm around his waist to pull him nearer and the other hand she used to pull his head to hers. She kissed him slowly and thoroughly, Kyle loved kissing her and he did it well, if he did say so himself. Kyle broke the kiss and cupped her pretty face in his hands, looking down on her, he knew she was his mate, she just had to be.

"But when I am ready, I need it to be with you."

Were Naomi the snivelling type she would have teared up, instead she just cleared her heavy throat and nodded.

"It better be."

Naomi got up from the bed and gave Kyle a final kiss, "put your shirt on, if my dad comes home and see's you like that in here he'll have a stroke."

Kyle smiled, "you're really okay with this?"

Naomi smiled warmly at him and nodded, "I'm very okay with this."

"But," Kyle said slipping his sweater over his head, amazed that she hadn't called him a pussy and a schmuck and kicked him out, "we can still do lots of heavy petting, right?"

Naomi laughed and left the room, Kyle let the smile fade from his face, he'd bought himself a little bit of time, but eventually he'd have to come clean.